The Columbus Blue Jackets dipped into the minors to recall defenseman Michael Paliotta from the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters on Friday.
The roster move comes after veteran blue liner Jack Johnson was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. It’s expected he’ll miss two weeks, after suffering the injury Thursday against New Jersey.
“(Johnson’s) a big part of our team,” David Savard told the Columbus Dispatch.
“He’s one of the leaders in the room. I’ve played a lot with him. He’s real easy to play with. He can change the game. You see him sometimes take charge of games. It’s a huge loss for our team, but it’s a chance to for people to show what they can do.”
Johnson, 29, has six goals and 14 points in 60 games.
Paliotta, 22 years old and standing six-foot-four-inches tall and 212 pounds, has appeared in career NHL game with Chicago last season.